The History Of Herodotus Volume 2 of 2

Page: 78

134. So much of the story is reported by all the Hellenes, but as to what
followed the Parians alone report, and they say that it happened thus:—When
Miltiades was at a loss, it is said, there came a woman to speech with
him, who had been taken prisoner, a Parian by race whose name was Timo, an
under-priestess 117 of the Earth goddesses; 118
she, they say, came into the presence of Miltiades and counselled him that
if he considered it a matter of much moment to conquer Paros, he could do
that which she should suggest to him; and upon that she told him her
meaning. He accordingly passed through to the hill which is before the
city and leapt over the fence of the temple of Demeter Giver of Laws, 119
not being able to open the door; and then having leapt over he went on
towards the sanctuary 120 with the design of doing something within,
whether it were that he meant to lay hands on some of the things which
should not be touched, or whatever else he intended to do; and when he had
reached the door, forthwith a shuddering fear came over him and he set off
to go back the same way as he came, and as he leapt down from the wall of
rough stones his thigh was dislocated, or, as others say, he struck his
knee against the wall..

135. Miltiades accordingly, being in a wretched case, set forth to sail
homewards, neither bringing wealth to the Athenians nor having added to
them the possession of Paros, but having besieged the city for
six-and-twenty days and laid waste the island: and the Parians being
informed that Timo the under-priestess of the goddesses had acted as a
guide to Miltiades, desired to take vengeance upon her for this, and they
sent messengers to Delphi to consult the god, so soon as they had leisure
from the siege; and these messengers they sent to ask whether they should
put to death the under-priestess of the goddesses, who had been a guide to
their enemies for the capture of her native city and had revealed to
Miltiades the mysteries which might not be uttered to a male person. The
Pythian prophetess however forbade them, saying that Timo was not the true
author of these things, but since it was destined that Miltiades should
end his life not well, she had appeared to guide him to his evil fate..

136. Thus the Pythian prophetess replied to the Parians: and the
Athenians, when Miltiades had returned back from Paros, began to talk of
him, and among the rest especially Xanthippos the son of Ariphron, who
brought Miltiades up before the people claiming the penalty of death and
prosecuted him for his deception of the Athenians: and Miltiades did not
himself make his own defence, although he was present, for he was unable
to do so because his thigh was mortifying; but he lay in public view upon
a bed, while his friends made a defence for him, making mention much both
of the battle which had been fought at Marathon and of the conquest of
Lemnos, namely how he had conquered Lemnos and taken vengeance on the
Pelasgians, and had delivered it over to the Athenians: and the people
came over to his part as regards the acquittal from the penalty of death,
but they imposed a fine of fifty talents for the wrong committed: and
after this Miltiades died, his thigh having gangrened and mortified, and
the fifty talents were paid by his son Kimon.